Washington, October 4(HS): US President Donald Trump declared on Friday that Hamas is now prepared for “lasting peace,” urging Israel to immediately cease military operations in Gaza to facilitate the safe return of hostages under an American-mediated ceasefire plan.

In a video address from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized that ongoing airstrikes made hostage recovery “far too dangerous,” and said negotiations were underway to finalize the details of a broader regional settlement.Trump’s direct call for Israel to stop bombardment marks his strongest intervention since returning to office, and comes after Hamas signaled openness to releasing prisoners and engaging in talks—a move Trump described as “encouraging” and “a very special day, maybe unprecedented” for Middle East diplomacy.

The president also publicly thanked key Arab mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan, for their roles in brokering the proposed truce.Despite the optimistic tone, Trump offered few specifics on the substance of the deal, stating only that “everybody will be treated fairly” in the process.

Israeli officials have so far not reacted to the latest developments, but regional media reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “surprised” by Hamas’s limited response to the full terms of the American plan.While Hamas welcomed Trump’s call for a cessation of violence, one senior official described the US plan as “vague, ambiguous and lacks clarity,” signaling potential hurdles ahead as talks proceed.

The evolving situation underlines both the urgency of securing the hostages’ safe return and the fragility of diplomatic progress in a region long gripped by cycles of conflict and mistrust.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar